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Smoking and infertility: multivariable regression and Mendelian randomization analyses in the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

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Authors

Hernáez, Álvaro 
Wootton, Robyn E 
Page, Christian M 
Skåra, Karoline H 
Fraser, Abigail 

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between smoking and infertility. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Nationwide cohort. PATIENTS: 28,606 women and 27,096 men with questionnaire and genotype information from the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study. INTERVENTION: Self-reported information on smoking (having ever smoked [both sexes], age at initiation [women only], cessation [women only], and cigarettes/week in current smokers [both sexes]) was gathered. Genetically predetermined levels or likelihood of presenting these traits were estimated for Mendelian randomization. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Infertility (time-to-pregnancy ≥12 months). RESULTS: Having ever smoked was unrelated to infertility in women or men. Higher smoking intensity in women was associated with greater infertility odds (+1 standard deviation [SD, 48 cigarettes/week]: odds ratio [OR]crude, 1.19; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11-1.28; ORadjusted 1.12; 95% CI, 1.03-1.21), also after adjusting for the partner's tobacco use. Later smoking initiation (+1 SD [3.2 years]: ORcrude, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.88-0.99; ORadjusted 0.89; 95% CI, 0.84-0.95) and smoking cessation (vs. not quitting: ORcrude, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.75-0.91; ORadjusted, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.75-0.93) were linked to decreased infertility in women. Nevertheless, Mendelian randomization results were not directionally consistent for smoking intensity and cessation and were estimated imprecisely in the 2-sample approach. In men, greater smoking intensity was not robustly associated with infertility in multivariable regression and Mendelian randomization. CONCLUSIONS: We did not find robust evidence of an effect of smoking on infertility. This may be due to a true lack of effect, weak genetic instruments, or other kinds of confounding.

Description

Keywords

Mendelian randomization, Smoking, infertility, Child, Cohort Studies, Fathers, Female, Humans, Infertility, Male, Mendelian Randomization Analysis, Mothers, Pregnancy, Prospective Studies, Smoking

Journal Title

Fertil Steril

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0015-0282
1556-5653

Volume Title

Publisher

Elsevier BV
Sponsorship
Medical Research Council (MC_UU_00002/7)
British Heart Foundation (None)
British Heart Foundation (CH/12/2/29428)
British Heart Foundation (RG/18/13/33946)
Wellcome Trust (204623/Z/16/Z)